August 24, 2011

Where to find opportunities in the PR field

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Q: I recently moved to Seattle from Washington, D.C. My background is in journalism and public relations, with a concentration on media relations and social media. Any suggestions on identifying networking and job opportunities?
-- K.B., Seattle

Kristen says: Seattle is home to a wide variety of PR companies and media. The two largest agencies with offices here are Edelman and Waggener Edstrom. There are several boutique PR firms, too; VocationVillage.com has a fairly comprehensive list.

A number of leading companies in several industries are based in the Seattle area: Microsoft, Amazon, Nordstrom, Starbucks, T-Mobile, REI, Alaska Airlines and Holland America Line all have their global headquarters here. Search their websites for in-house media relations or corporate communications positions.

As for print media, the area’s predominant newspaper is The Seattle Times; smaller publications include The Stranger, Seattle Weekly, Eastside Weekly and Puget Sound Business Journal. Seattle and Seattle Met magazines are other options.

You can find job postings on NWjobs.com, Seattle24x7 and Craigslist. The CyberAlert portal often lists jobs in the PR industry.

Networking is key in your field. Once you have identified the companies you are interested in working for, I would recommend using LinkedIn to meet recruiters and account managers. Check out Seattle-specific networking groups (search in the “Groups” section on LinkedIn) as well as the Public Relations Society of America’s Puget Sound chapter, which offers monthly programs and events.

Seattle is a wired city; a lot of networking happens online, especially in the social media space. Recruiters are very connected on Yahoo Groups, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. You might also look into the Washington Technology Industry Association to help identify tech companies that are embracing social media channels.

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